Recently some liberal online activists admitted that conservatives were using Twitter to much greater advantage than they were. No wonder. When you read some of the stuff they post on Twitter, it is no wonder the medium is not helping them. A recent case in point -- David Shuster's recent tweet regarding the 65-year-old man who had his finger bitten off by a MoveOn.org health care reform advocate at a demonstration.

The man's name is William Rice, but MSNBC's David Shuster called him "finger guy" in his tweet. First Shuster tweeted, "that's right, it was medicare... a govt run program that represents all the protestor objects to... it was medicare that treated him." Later he tweeted, "the point is that finger guy opposes govt run programs, except when it's his finger that needs medical help."

Shuster was not the only liberal blogging or tweeting about how supposedly ironic and hypocritical it was that Rice had Medicare. Here are just a handful (pardon the pun) of many other examples:

camsteh Anti-Healthcare protestor gets finger bitten off at rally. "She says he had Medicare," the story states. Thousands die from irony overdose.

Ramotringo @Hst3 @Dufus @rebeccay Shouting teabagger,(against gov-run h/care), who lost piece of finger, luckily had Medicare card in his wallet.

ToadMan628: Someone's senior lost part of his finger today! And he was against Socialized HC. Guess that medicare card came in handy?

agategal It's sure fortunate that the anti-health-care-reform/anti-government guy who had his finger bit off yesterday...is on Medicare.

In addition to some in tweets and blog posts coming across sounding like they were incredibly amused that Mr. Rice's finger was bitten off and that he had to seek medical attention, I think the argument is a perfect example of how flawed the liberal position on Obamacare is. Wow, the man is 65 years old and he is on Medicare. Wow, how amazing is that? Uh, not very. In case you missed it, he is 65 years old.

Since some of the debate over the issue occurred on Twitter, here are a few responses to Shuster's tweet.

If they can fix Medicare, or better yet, let the states run a Medicaid program that covers anyone not on Medicare. And if they can show that it is sustainable without upping the costs. Then I have no problem with everyone on Medicare or Medicaid.

But people should be able to get tax rebates and buy their own insurance, or get "top off" insurance for stuff that Medicare/aid won't cover.

I think that is the best compromise. For once regular democrat americans are right.

My father is on Medicaid. Not by choice, mind you. He had a very nice health plan from his employer. Then, in what I'm sure is simply a fantastic coincidence that has nothing to do with government creating economic incentives for this to happen, the day he became eligible for Medicaid, he was dropped from the superior private plan, and now has to pay additional $$$s to the government for his coverage.

Yup, in the government's infinite wisdom, Washington has determined that the best way to help my retired father is to give him inferior health coverage and additional financial burdens.

This isn't about health care or liberals vs. conservatives, conservatives are strong defenders of first amendment rights as well. A guy suckerpunched a another man exercising his right to free speech at a political rally. Heck, he's lucky he only lost a digit! When you suckerpunch someone in the face for exercising their first amendment rights, you should not be surprised when they respond in kind. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

"My father is on Medicaid. Not by choice, mind you. He had a very nice health plan from his employer. Then, in what I'm sure is simply a fantastic coincidence that has nothing to do with government creating economic incentives for this to happen, the day he became eligible for Medicaid, he was dropped from the superior private plan, and now has to pay additional $$$s to the government for his coverage."

I'm confused on how you can blame the government for a private health care provider dropping your dad's coverage. It's weird, because this example doesn't support your opinion at all, but rather points out the problem with the current health care system, how private insurers and simply drop people from their coverage. What if Medicare wasn't their for your dad? What would his other option be?

Rice admitted that he threw the first punch, that he made the first violent physical contact. So yeah...if you throw a punch at me and your finger finds its way in my mouth, you're coming away with a stump!

Sorry...I don't feel a bit sorry for the angry old coot....you start hitting people you get what you deserve.

It shouldn't be that controversial of a thing that the man used Medicare to get treatment; as he is a taxpayer he should see at least some returns for the 65 years worth of tax money that was taken from him. Understandably people give in to using government programs, which is because they've already paid for the service through taxes and cannot afford to pay for the same thing twice.
bit.ly/1QX4sF Read my response to the incident.

Moveon.org was on one side of the street. The counter protesters were on the other. The bitter cross the street and starts yelling at and getting to the face of the oldest person their. According to witness the bitter was trying to grab the man. So he defend himself against the man,

Getting up in a strangers face and yelling and calling him an idiot is force him to change his views is intimidation. Though the old guy threw the first punch some witness say the bitter was the first to lay hands on him and come into the man space.

So Sally, can I mark you down for the "pure, complete coincidence" explanation?

If you haven't been paying attention, part of the debate is that whatever program the government offers, it will provide a further incentive for employers to dump employees on the government plan. Yes, there are problems with the current system, but my example is there to show that the current plan being bandied about in Washington will exacerbate those problems, not solve them.